An electronic lock may be used to monitor and control access throughout a home. The electronic lock is preferably mounted to a main enter/exit door on the home as this provides a good point of contact for users entering and leaving the home. The electronic lock may monitor users, appliances, safety, and operation of interior doors. Access may be controlled and/or monitored by users with a mobile device or through any other similar device.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of communicating activity in proximity of a dwelling comprising the steps of: providing an electronic lock on a main entry door of a dwelling; providing a plurality of electronic sensors each within one of a plurality of rooms within the dwelling, wherein each electronic sensor is configured to sense at least one of motion, door lock status, and door position; forming a wireless network with each one of the plurality of electronic sensors and the electronic lock; establishing wireless, electronic communication between the electronic lock and the plurality of electronic sensors within the wireless network; connecting the wireless network to a mobile computing device assigned to an authorized user; enabling the electronic lock to communicate a status of each electronic sensor to the authorized user; authorizing at least one mobile computing device assigned to an additional user to the wireless network; monitoring with the electronic lock an interaction of each one of the mobile computing devices assigned to additional users with the plurality of electronic sensors; and sending a wireless message containing information regarding the interaction of each one of the mobile computing devices with the plurality of electronic sensors from the electronic lock to the authorized user; assigning a unique permission to each one of the additional users, wherein the unique permission includes authorization to enter a predetermined selection of the plurality of rooms; and generating a warning alert from the electronic lock to the authorized user when the additional user is in a room not included in the unique permission.
2. The method of communicating activity in proximity of a dwelling according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network includes at least one of Bluetooth, WiFi, Near Field Communication (NFC), and a cellular network.
3. The method of communicating activity in proximity of a dwelling according to claim 1 , wherein the warning alert includes transmitting a message to the mobile device.
4. The method of communicating activity in proximity of a dwelling according to claim 1 , wherein the warning alert includes at least one of a visual alert and an audible alert.
5. The method of communicating activity in proximity of a dwelling according to claim 1 , wherein the unique permission assigned to the additional users may be revoked and assigned with the mobile device by the authorized user.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 6, 2017
January 8, 2019
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